Sunarko, Tarigan best scorers at JP golf meet

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Andries Sunarko emerged as the best net-scorer while Tarigan Jaman won the best gross-scoring title at the inaugural The Jakarta Post golf tournament at the par-72 Rancamaya Golf and Country Club in Bogor on Friday.

One hundred and two amateur golfers participated in the one- day tournament, which was held in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of The Jakarta Post. Three ambassadors were among the participants: James Sinclair (Chile), Jose Luis Mignini (Argentina) and Lu Shumin (China).

The shotgun tournament was also participated in by Sabam Siagian, a director of The Jakarta Post. The former Indonesian ambassador to Australia was in the same group as Mignini, Shumin and Moetaryanto from the Petrolog Group.

The participants were divided into three groups: A Flight for those with handicaps of up to 18, B Flight (19-24) and Ladies Flight (up to 36).

Andries, from PT Rifan Money Broker, carded a 9-over-par 45 in the first nine holes and came in with a 6-over-par 42 for a total of 87 strokes. With a handicap of 24, he had a net score of 63, which proved to be the best net score of the day.

"I would not take a risk. I did not use a driver for fear of faltering further, considering my poor showing during practice with the driver," Andries, who chalked up two birdies, said.

Tarigan's total of 79 (41 38) earned the nine-handicapped player the best gross score.

Frans Darmadi, with a handicap of 18, booked a net score of 65 to win the A Flight, followed by M. Zaenudin with 67 and Artito with 68.

Sugiarto was the winner of B Flight with 66. Suwandra finished in second place with 67 and Kusnadi took third place four strokes over the winner.

Mrs. Betty ended the day as the best scorer in the five-strong Ladies Flight, scoring a net 80.

Raju Vijayavargiya hit hard on the second hole to strike the longest drive with around 270 yards while Alan S. Hutton was the player to strike "the nearest to the pin" with the 1.9 meters he made on hole 17.

The jackpot of a BMW and Rp 70 million for hole-in-one winners remained safe in the organizers' hands.